Life as seen through the eyes of a frum Reform Jewish rabbi changing the world one Jew at a time

I Need a Hero

School is back in session and already the tension is mounting with the first of many projects already looming large. The first assignment?

Famous American Biography Assignment

Part 1
Read a biography of a famous American. The book must be at least 100 pgs. The subject must be someone who has made a significant contribution and is no longer living. Complete the Biography Notes worksheet thoroughly and neatly.

Part 2
Draw a portrait of the famous American and label with five adjectives describing him/her. Thoughtful consideration should go into choosing the adjectives and you must be able to give good reasons for your choices. This part will be done in class.

Part 3
Write a full page (minimum) tribute about this individual, including specific accomplishments, admirable personal qualities, obstacles overcome, etc. This tribute should be typed or written in your best cursive, and be free of grammatical and spelling errors.

Part 4
Give an oral presentation about the life of this famous American. Pretend you are the person you read about. Tell about “your” contributions, and about “your” life. You will need to rehearse at home and be very prepared. You will only have five minutes for your presentation.

Monday afternoon
Beernut hands me the instructions for this assignment and excitedly announced his choice for a famous American who had made a “significant contribution”: Sandy Koufax.

FrumeSarah: “Sandy Koufax? Really, Beernut? What did Sandy Koufax do?”Beernut: “Mo-om! Everyone in the whole world knows that Sandy Koufax didn’t play on Yom Kippur.”

The poor kid has no idea that Sandy Koufax’s athletic accomplishments, such as the speed of his pitches, are what catapulted him to fame. It’s only within our community that he is known first and foremost for taking himself out of the lineup of Game 1 of the 1965 World Series.

Wednesday afternoonFS: “Bad news, Beernut. I can’t seem to find an age-appropriate book on Louis Brandeis. But I know we can come up with someone else. Hey…I have a book that I got as a Chanukah gift when I was just about your age and it’s about a fellow named Haym Solomon.”BN: “Who was he?”FS: “Well, he came to America when he was thirty-five years old and was instrumental in helping America gain her freedom from England.”BN: “He wasn’t born here. He wasn’t American.”FS: “I think that a good arguement could be made for him given there was no America at the time AND he was responsbile for getting the money the Colonists needed to pay for the war.”BN: “I’m not sure. How about Papa? He fought in TWO wars.”FS: “Yes, he did. But I’m not sure Mr. Nakamura would consider that a significant contribution given the thousands and thousands of young men who served in those times.”BN: “How about King David? He’s definitely dead.”FS: “He’s not American.”BN: “Right.”FS: “You know, Beernut, you don’t have to pick someone Jewish.”BN: “Yeah, Mom, I do.”

And then I remembered. Remembered what it was like to sit through history classes as a youngster and wonder where I fit into the story. Learning about California state history was like studying a foreign country. My family was still in the shtetlsof Eastern Europe. They weren’t anywhere near theEl Camino Real, which runs from San Diego up to Sonoma. So to do a report on someone like Levi Strauss writes us back into the story.

For children of ethnic, religious, and cultural minorities, pointing to heroes that look, sound, and act like them is empowering. It send the message of inclusion and belonging. And it sends the message that they too can make significant contributions to our world.

I thought so too! He has been raised in a vibrant Jewish home. But there is no pressure for him to narrow his scope only to Jews. So I was thrilled when he expressed his own desire to seek out a famous American Jew.

As a fellow product of the California Public School System – I totally relate. Though when I had to do that product, I did it on President Lincoln.
I think if I had to do it now it would be someone like Gloria Steinem – a vibrant Jewish Feminist. (I’m sure this surprises you 😉 )

Doesn’t surprise me in the slightest. No term should be hijacked by one particular approach. Feminism should be open to all women who choose to assert their rights to be women in their own ways. Sadly, this is rarely the case.

Along the same lines, I find it frustrating that the term “Reform” has come to mean “know nothing, do nothing” when in fact that is in complete opposition to the movement’s founders. I am living proof that Reform can mean observant, yet embracing modernity.

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Frume Sarah is Shabbos-observant -- in a Reform way, that is. Please note that from Friday afternoons until one hour after sundown on Saturday evenings, Frume Sarah will be unavailable, in observance of the Jewish Sabbath.
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Thank you for your understanding...and gut Shabbos!!!